Liangshui River Camp

While investigating the security situation in Zhangjiawan and Hexiwu, Zhang Kun was also preparing for the relocation of Hegongying.

Routine patrols and night watch duties were assigned to the officers and sergeants left behind by Zheng Anshi.

As for Zheng Anshi's suggestion of "using bandits to control bandits," Zhang Kun currently has no intention of personally intervening.

Instead, they had the inspectors from the patrol office negotiate on their behalf, engaging in perfunctory negotiations.

It's not too late to meet again after the river work camp moves here and we kill off a few of the most arrogant gangs with knives!

"Taksheng, how have you been lately?"

Wei Sengteng, whom Yang Desheng had not seen for a long time, went to the Nanxiawa camp of the river engineering camp and invited him out for drinks.

After parting ways with Zhang Kun last year, Wei Sengteng traveled to the three towns of Xuanfu, Datong, and Yulin to visit his old friend from his time in the army.

"I'm doing quite well. I've now risen to the rank of battalion commander and also earned a hereditary title of centurion."

Yang Desheng took the wine pot and filled Wei Sengteng's cup, then asked, "And you, brother?"

"Sigh, I'm alright, but those old buddies are having a really tough time."

Wei Sengteng sighed deeply, raised the porcelain bowl, and drank it all in one gulp. He then said sadly to Yang Desheng:

"Things are a bit better at Xuanda. At most, they are in arrears with military pay from time to time, but their rations and monthly rations are still issued relatively frequently."

Northern Shaanxi was truly miserable; people were starving and cold, and they had to risk their lives fighting the Tartars...

Yulin Town is located on the Loess Plateau, which is inherently less developed than the basins of Xuanfu and Datong.

Xuanda University was closer to the capital and received more attention.

After the eastward migration of the 30,000 households on the left wing of the Tatars, and the rise of Nurhaci of the Jianzhou Jurchens.

The imperial court allocated more of its limited border funds to Liaodong, indirectly making northern Shaanxi even more impoverished.

"Could we recruit some people for the river engineering camp?"

Yang Desheng poured Wei Sengteng another full glass, saying, "Master Kun needs good hands; we can afford to keep as many as we can."

"Disaster,"

Wei Sengteng shook his head, downed his drink in one gulp, and sighed to Yang Desheng:

"We are from humble backgrounds, we have never married or had children, but they are different, they have lived in the border town for generations."

"My family and friends are all there; how can I leave so easily?"

He put down his wine bowl and continued speaking to Yang Desheng:

"If Master Kun wants to recruit people, let alone how much of a nail is left in this dilapidated ship that is the Beijing Garrison, there are Jizhou and Xuanfu right in front of us."

Wei Sengteng, Yang Desheng, and more than a dozen other skilled fighters were all civilians who joined the army. They were all originally servants of a military officer in Xuanfu Town.

Wei Sengteng, the most skilled among them, became the head of the household guards, and thus later became their leader.

Following this adjutant, the group fought in Datong and Yulin, and finally became adjutants in Tongzhou.

After retiring, the military officer dismissed all his servants because he had no sons, brothers, or nephews.

Those with military status could return to their hometowns, while those without military status could only be registered in the Beijing garrison, occasionally earning money as guards or bodyguards.

Having finally encountered a wise ruler like Zhang Kun, almost all of them, except for Wei Sengteng who was unwilling to be bound by rules, chose to stay and serve him.

Nowadays, some are in the guards, some are in the river work battalion, and some are in various businesses, serving as sentries, flag bearers, or guards.

"Brother, you're not young anymore, why not continue to serve Master Kun?"

Yang Desheng advised Wei Sengteng, "Get married and have a son to carry on the family line."

Pointing to himself as an example, "Not long ago, Uncle Kun arranged a marriage for his younger brother with the niece of a military officer in Shandong..."

"You go ahead and marry your wife, don't try to persuade me!"

Wei Sengteng curled his lip and interrupted Yang Desheng impatiently:

"If Master Kun has any job, I can take it, but I don't want to be bound by the rules."

These wives and children, they too are a constraint! You'll understand when the time comes.

"Okay, okay, okay."

Yang Desheng shook his head with a wry smile, picking up where Wei Sengteng left off, "But Master Kun does indeed have a job up his sleeve recently..."

"Suppressing the bandits is excellent! As expected of Lord Kun, he always does good things that benefit the country and its people."

Upon learning that Zhang Kun planned to suppress the bandits in Zhangjiawan and Hexiwu, Wei Sengteng agreed to Yang Desheng's request:

"I'll take this job. Now take me to find Master Kun."

......

Upon seeing Wei Sengteng, Zhang Kun was overjoyed and quickly walked over, reaching out to take the other's arm, saying:

"How have you been, General Wei?"

"I've been doing alright these days, but my former brothers are having a very hard time..."

Wei Sengteng briefly recounted the hardships faced by the Shaanxi border troops, and then respectfully addressed Zhang Kun:

"I've heard that Master Kun is going to wipe out the bandits in Zhangjiawan and Hexiwu for the sake of the people, and I'd like to do my part!"

"Good! With Warrior Wei's help, our chances of victory have greatly increased!"

On Zhang Kun's side, no one really has more military experience than this veteran who has served in the army for more than ten years.

With Wei Sengteng's guidance, the work of suppressing the bandits will undoubtedly progress faster.

After reviewing Zhang Kun's investigation report, Wei Sengteng pondered for a moment and then offered his suggestion:

"Master Kun, in my opinion, the key to eliminating the thieves is to find out how they disposed of the stolen goods."

Thieves don't just steal money; they also need to find ways to sell the many goods they steal.

And the methods can't be changed every time; there must have been some who had been colluding for a long time!

At this point, a glint of light flashed in his eyes as he said:

"First check the pawnshop. The pawnshop only needs to forge a few pawn tickets to launder the stolen goods."

Thieves who robbed around the large town often partnered with pawnshop owners!

In fact, the most common groups of thieves are ship gangs and horse caravans, but these are too mobile and difficult to track down.

Pawnshops have physical stores; they may run away, but they can't hide.

Speaking of monks and temples, many Buddhist temples are also involved in pawnbroking, which is highly suspicious!

"Sir Wei, how many men do you need?"

Zhang Kun and Wei Sengteng, having reached the same conclusion, nodded in approval.

"Don't rush, Master Kun. Let me wander around here for a few days and get familiar with the area."

Wei Sengteng respectfully said to Zhang Kun, "Once we are familiar with the situation, we can investigate each household one by one!"

......

At the confluence of the Xiao Taihou River and the Grand Canal, a few hundred steps to the southeast, lies a high ground.

Zhang Kun took a liking to this place and decided to build the new camp here.

Because of the nearby Liangshui River, the new camp was named Liangshui River Camp.

The moat at the nine gates of Dajun is basically completed. The foreman brought General Ge Dajin with the first batch of military craftsmen and river workers.

First, level the land, connect the roads, and build enclosed houses for the river workers and their families.

Then, various supporting facilities were built, such as a canteen, a clothing repair shop, and a literacy school.

Under Zhang Kun's deliberate guidance, the lifestyle of these river workers has become quite similar to that of state-owned enterprise workers in later generations.

Earning a monthly salary, eating in the cafeteria, wearing ready-made clothes, attending night school...

Its most prominent feature is its organization and scale, transforming from small-scale family production into large-scale socialized production.

In the late Ming Dynasty, natural disasters and man-made calamities became increasingly frequent, making it difficult for vulnerable families to survive.

Zhang Kun not only gave this guidance to the river engineering camp, but also to the Danbagu farm on the Limin ship.

Guidance cannot rely solely on words; for example, Zhang Kun would invest money in the farm and build enclosed houses.

"Officer Ge,"

Pointing to the planning map drawn by Ge Dajin, Zhang Kun put forward a new requirement:

"Here, build a small training ground that can accommodate a small battalion of 500 people to train at the same time."

Also, the new literacy school should be larger, large enough to accommodate all the children learning to read.

"All the children?"

Ge Dajin wasn't surprised by the small training ground; Zhang Kun had already revealed the plan to suppress the bandits to the higher-ups.

But is it really possible to enable all children to learn to read?